On May 1 the Polish Chórtownia Foundation will launch a series of seminars for choirmasters and directors in Armenia. The seminars will feature the project The Sound of Europe II and presentation of the website which is a platform to gather information on various choirs in different countries.

In 2016 Überlingen, Germany will host the exhibition “Armenia – Past and Present: Painting and Photography 1975-2015” dedicated to the Armenian Genocide Centennial.
Sona Harutyunyan, Head of the Cultures in Dialogue Foundation, told the journalists that the exhibition will feature works by three generations of artists.

The timeframe for public and political discussions on the adoption of anti-discrimination law or a substituting legal framework remains unclear. Civil society representatives and the Justice Ministry, however, agree that appropriate awareness campaign should be carried out before the law is adopted.

The three-year Human Rights for Diversity and Equality Program launched in Armenia in January, 2015. It aims to enhance the protection of human rights in the country, with the target groups being sexual, religious and ethnic minorities.

The confrontation between Local Developers Company, owned by businessman Samvel Mayrapetyan, and residents of the buildings at 23, 25 Teryan Str. and 37 Lalayants Str. have come to a turning point. Local Developers Company – constructor of the buildings since 2007 – filed a lawsuit to move out residents of their flats. The residents, however, are determined to stand up and “vigorously struggle for” their property.

The parents of the March 1 victims hopelessly think the March 1 case will not be solved and those guilty for the murder of ten people will not be punished under the current authorities in Armenia. The seven-year-long investigation, parents believe, is nothing but “an imitation.” They have decided not to go to the Special Investigation Service since they have stopped trusting it.

The concept of introducing pediatric palliative care appears to be gradually shaping in Armenia while palliative care for adults is becoming more available through availability of medicine and improvement regarding the policy, legislation and public awareness campaign, Armenian and foreign experts stated at the Media Center panel discussion.

The Armenian government delegation is to make a statement regarding the 179 obligations within the UN Universal Periodic Review by June, 2015.
Today at the Media Center press conference representatives of civil society spoke on the upcoming session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Armenia will report to the council that the country obliges to address or acknowledge the obligations.

The Arcasid Mausoleum in Aghtsk, Aragatsotn is the only unique historical monument of its kind which houses tombs of the royal dynasty. The planned excavations of the Mausoleum are important for the Armenian nation from a self-recognition perspective.

France still has to face a problem of religious extremism despite actions and measures taken following the Charlie Hebdo shooting. H.E. Jean-François Charpentier, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France in Armenia shared his thoughts at the Media Center press conference.

The war in Ukraine may cease if one of the sides, namely armed groups of “the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR)” fulfill the points set forth in the Minsk Protocol.

Though the bill of Domestic Violence Law addresses the proposed requirements fully, the adoption of the law is not actively backed. Today at the Media Center press conference civil society representatives shared thoughts on recent developments regarding Domestic Violence Law in Armenia.

Vardan Petrosyan’s lawyers have applied to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for “an illegal one-year imprisonment.” The court decision to imprison the actor, his lawyers believe, is illegal since his guilt has not been proven, and Vardan Petrosyan, if released, will not attempt to interfere with the trial.

French investors are willing to continue launching and implementing projects in Armenia, as a result, strengthening the Armenia-France relations.
The French delegates are visiting Armenia as part of a series of study tours initiated by the Armenian-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the PMCI Company.

The Group of Observers Conducting Public Monitoring of Penitentiary Institutions and Bodies of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia shared their thoughts on the protection of human rights and detected violation cases in Armenian prisons in 2014.